Welcome to Geocaching on Mull
Combine a walk or ride in one of the most scenic areas of the UK, with exposure to some of the most diverse wildlife in the UK, with a dynamic treasure hunt and you have Geocaching.
Hunting for treasure has always been associated with exotic islands, wonderful beaches, mountains and wilderness remote from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. The Isle of Mull has it all and some of the best quality Geocaching in Britain.
The caches have been placed carefully, in locations of interest on the island, and graded in accordance with the Guidelines of www.geocaching.com. Make sure you register firstly.
So what is it all about
Geocaching is one of the best-known, and engaged-in, treasure-hunting outdoor activities, and currently the fastest-growing leisure pursuit in the UK. Basically you use a GPS (Global Positioning System) device or a smartphone with GPS to locate a ‘geocache’, usually shortened to ‘cache’
A ‘cache’ is a waterproof container of some kind, often disguised and hidden in the landscape. The box, or Tupperware container, has within it a log book and pencil/pen to record the geocacher’s visit and the date they found it, signing the log book with their geocaching name (chosen when first registering on the Geocaching.com host website).
The container often has some form of swapable content, a toy, small tokens…anything, except foodstuffs. The practice is that if you take something out, you put something of equal or greater value of yours in. You may also find other objects like ‘Travel Bugs’ and ‘geocoins’, commonly known as ‘travellers’. These objects are movable and normally have a set purpose, which will be described in more detail in the ‘Getting Started’ part of the website.
After signing the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where you found it. Care must be taken not to let others see where you are placing it, in order not to alert ‘Muggles’ or other geocachers to its location. As in all hobbies and cults, nicknames and ‘code speak’ occurs. A ‘Muggle’ is a name borrowed from Harry Potter, and is a nickname for non-cachers, i.e. the general public.
This is harmless fun and a challenging activity for all the family, for groups of friends and for individuals. Presently, there are 2.3 million geocaches worldwide:, of which more than 161,000 are in the UK. So get on your walking boots pack a lunch and get outside with your family or on your own (let someone know where your going) Then if you have booked cabin 1 with the Hot tub and sauna you can return home to your accommodation and relax after a great day out and the achievement made.
Getting started
If this activity interests you, you may find info in Tourist Office in Craignure. Register first at http://www.geocaching.com
Happy Geocaching
